SPONSORS

The Sunday Times has been a loyal sponsor of this prestigious exhibition since its inception 27 years ago.

Smith & Williamson is a leading, award-winning provider of investment management, accounting, tax, corporate and financial advisory services to private clients, corporates, professional practices and non-profit organisations. With 11 principal offices in the UK and Ireland, around 1,500 people and an international capacity in over 100 countries, our aim is to provide an innovative global service.

We are delighted to support The Sunday Times Watercolour Competition and to sponsor specifically the Cityscape Prize. We wish all entrants good luck.

The panel of judges will initially review entries through a digital submission process. Closing deadline for online submission is 5pm, Monday 2 June 2014. Following this, approximately 250 shortlisted artists will then be invited to deliver their actual works on Wednesday 18 June 2014, from 10 - 5pm, to the Federation of British Artists (FBA), 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD, for final judging.

Only works shortlisted from the initial digital submission will be received for final judging. These works will only be accepted at the submission point with fully completed entry forms and labels, which will be emailed to artists following the initial selection. Please note that notification of all results will be sent by email only.

The judges will be looking for work that makes the most imaginative or otherwise impressive use of a water based medium. The judges decision will be final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into. The 2014 judges are: Sarah Armstrong JonesArtist Desmond Shawe-Taylor CVOSurveyor of the Queen’s PicturesBen RavenscroftArtistLouis WiseCritic & Writer, The Sunday Times

For the sixth year running, Smith & Williamson are generously supporting a tour, whereby a selection of the 2014 exhibition will be shown in their offices throughout the UK from September 2014 to January 2015.

KEY DATES 2014

2 June - Deadline for online entries, by 5pm13 June - Results of initial entry emailed to artists by this date18 June - Shortlisted artists submit works to FBA 20 June - Results of second round judging emailed to artists by this date24 June - Unaccepted short listed works available for collection at FBA, 10am-5pm 15-20 September - Exhibition at Mall Galleries, The Mall, London SW1 10am-5pmOctober 2014 – January 2015 - Exhibition tour

RULES & Guidelines

The competition is open to all artists born or resident in the UK, creating paintings using any water based medium.

Works entered should have been carried out in the last three years; not been previously exhibited; be the sole and original work of the entrant; and be an original composition.

The maximum size of work, in its largest dimension, including frame, is 122 cm.

All works shortlisted and submitted for final judging, must be securely framed and behind glass. Metal, plastic or clip frames will not be allowed.

Please note: Works should not have any fixings on the back so they can not cause damage to other works.

The responsibility for damage or loss, however caused, is the responsibility of the artist, who is therefore advised, if invited for the final judging process, to arrange adequate insurance cover against these risks.

All selected work must be available until the end of January 2015.

COLLECTION OF UNACCEPTED WORK

Following the final judging, works not accepted for exhibition will be available for collection from the FBA (rear of the Mall Galleries) on 24 June 2014, from 10 – 5pm. After this date, uncollected works will be removed from the FBA and taken into storage by Art Moves of Chelsea.

A storage charge of £10.00 per work per week (part or whole) will be incurred. You will need to contact Art Moves of Chelsea on 020 7352 7492 to make an appointment for collection. Any work not collected by 31 December 2014 will be disposed of.

SALE OF WORKS

A commission of 40% + VAT on sales and introductions as a result of the exhibition and tour will be levied.

HELP & FAQs

If you experience problems with the online entry process, including payments by PayPal, or if you have any questions about entering The Sunday Times Watercolour Competition 2014 that can not be answered by reading the Rules & Guidelines, or by looking at the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), please contact the website administrators by email.

Are acrylics, gouache or inks acceptable mediums?

Yes, any water-based media is acceptable. Artists should note that whilst any water-based mediums are acceptable, this competition aims to celebrate and reward excellence and originality in the genre of watercolour painting. The judges will therefore be looking for work that makes the most imaginative or otherwise impressive use of a water based medium in this respect.

Is there a maximum or minimum size limits for works to be submitted?

There is no minimum size limit, but the maximum size of work, in its largest dimension including frame, is 122cms.

I am a British Citizen but currently living abroad, am I eligible to enter?

No, only artists currently resident in the UK are eligible for entry.

I am not a British Citizen but currently resident in the UK, am I eligible for entry?

Yes, the competition is open to all artists currently resident in the UK creating paintings using any water based medium.

I would like to put forward a piece of work that was created over 3 years ago, would this be acceptable?

No, only works produced within the last 3 years are acceptable.

I do not have digital images of my work, what should I do?

We are trying to encourage all applicants to enter online in order to reduce our paper usage and speed up the application process, however, if you are unable to process an application online, please contact Parker Harris for further details about postal entries. Click HERE to contact Parker Harris now.

What resolution should my images be?

Ideally all images should be 300dpi but with a maximum file size of 500KB. Only the following file formats are acceptable: JPEGs, TIFFs or PNGs. Each image file must be named with your surname, first name and brief title e.g. SmithJohn_Title.jpeg. Whilst work titles may be too long to be used as image names, a section of your title would be adequate.

I cannot upload my images, what should I do?

Check that each of your image files are 500kb or less and that they are the accepted file types (either JPG, TIFF, or PNG.) If you still encounter problems, please contact the website administrators by email.

I don't have a PayPal account does this matter?

No, you do not need to have a registered PayPal account in order to enter online. Once you are linked through to the PayPal payment page, you will be asked to input your credit card details on the secure PayPal website. Those with PayPal accounts are given the option to sign in if they wish.

I want to pay by cheque or cash.

Cash payments are not acceptable as we are trying to encourage all applicants to enter and pay online. However, if you are unable to process an application online, please contact Parker Harris for further details about postal entries. Click HERE to contact Parker Harris now.

What happens if my work is accepted for the final judging from actual works?

Artists will be notified by email, by 13 June 2014, of the results of their application. Those artists who are invited to present their actual works for the final judging, will need to deliver their work to the Federation of Artists (FBA), 17 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5BD on Wednesday 18 June between 10am and 5pm. A list of approved carriers who can offer collection and delivery services, should you be selected to bring your works to London for the final judging, can be down loaded HERE.

What happens if my work is accepted for exhibition?

Works accepted for exhibition will be retained and stored at the Mall Galleries until the exhibition in September 2014.

What happens if my work is accepted for final judging but not for exhibition?

Following the final judging, works not accepted for exhibition will be available for collection from the FBA (rear of the Mall Galleries) on 24 June 2014, from 10–5pm. After this date, uncollected works will be removed from the FBA and taken into storage by Art Moves of Chelsea. A storage charge of £10.00 per work per week (part or whole) will be incurred. You will need to contact Art Moves of Chelsea on 020 7352 7492 to make an appointment for collection. Any work not collected by 31 December 2014 will be disposed of.